I really think this book is worth buying and that MacSweeney was one of the most important poets in Britain. He's a world away from the cosy, nauseatingly self-important poetry being churned out by people such as Andrew Motion and tom Paulin. This is raw poetry, with Hopkins' ear for alliteration and sound but with a clarity lacking in much poetry of this sort.

The book deals with MacSweeney's alcoholism and near-death experiences he suffered as a result. it is confessional literature but isn't constricted to straightforward, plaintive regret, one is tempted to see the poet as loving these demons, as is borne out by his death earlier this year. the poems are also accompanied by 'pearl', in my mind a weaker set of poems about his innocent childhood relationship with a mute girl who he taught to read and write. the countering is simplistic, but this is in part the point.

i would say buy this book at all costs. it's real poetry, a world away from the safe conventions being adhered to currently.